On this episode of 30 Screams or Less, we review Pinocchio Unstrung, the twisted new horror reimagining of the classic Pinocchio story from writer and director Rhys Frake-Waterfield.

Starring Richard Brake as Geppetto, Robert Englund as Cricket, Jude Evan Lloyd as the voice of Pinocchio, and Cameron Bell as James, Pinocchio Unstrung follows the iconic wooden puppet on a disturbing journey to become a real boy — one that involves brutal kills, stolen body parts, and a seriously warped interpretation of the original story.

We break down the movie’s incredible practical puppetry and animatronic effects, Richard Brake’s menacing performance, Robert Englund’s Freddy Krueger-inspired callbacks, Andrew Scott Bell’s score, the surprisingly compelling story, and some of the most ridiculous and creative kills in the Poohniverse so far.

Is Pinocchio Unstrung another goofy public-domain horror movie, or has the Twisted Childhood Universe officially turned these childhood characters into legitimately entertaining horror?

Warning: This episode contains spoilers for Pinocchio Unstrung.

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Alamo Drafthouse Presents Fantastic Fest: We’re incredibly excited to announce that 30 Screams or Less has been accredited as press for this year’s Fantastic Fest! We’ll be covering the festival, checking out some of the most anticipated genre films of the year, and bringing you reviews and coverage along the way. Learn more about Fantastic Fest here: https://fantasticfest.com/

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On this episode of 30 Screams or Less, Steve and Corey review Leviticus, the 2026 horror film written and directed by Adrian Chiarella, starring Joe Bird and Stacey Clauson. Two teenage boys become trapped in a nightmare when a violent supernatural entity begins taking the form of the person they desire most — each other.

We break down the film’s unsettling mix of religious horror, sexuality, guilt, and supernatural terror, the major It Follows vibes, and the clever way the entity constantly leaves both the characters and audience questioning who is real. We also dig into the relationship between Naim and Ryan, the incredible performances from Joe Bird and Stacey Clauson, the film’s cinematography and score, and why its slow-burn approach to character development makes the horror hit even harder.

Somehow this one flew almost completely under our radar. Is this one of the most overlooked horror movies of 2026? Listen to our full Leviticus review and find out. Spoilers ahead.

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Alamo Drafthouse Presents Fantastic Fest: We’re incredibly excited to announce that 30 Screams or Less has been accredited as press for this year’s Fantastic Fest! We’ll be covering the festival, checking out some of the most anticipated genre films of the year, and bringing you reviews and coverage along the way. Learn more about Fantastic Fest here: https://fantasticfest.com/

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We’re diving back into Dangerous Animals for a special 30 Screams or Less: Podcaster’s Cut — our extended, less-edited version of the episode featuring more tangents, more screwups, and plenty of conversations that probably should have stayed on the cutting-room floor.

Directed by Sean Byrne and written by Nick Lepard, Dangerous Animals stars Hassie Harrison as Zephyr, a free-spirited surfer who is abducted by shark-obsessed serial killer Bruce Tucker, played by Jai Courtney. Trapped aboard his boat and facing a particularly brutal fate in the waters below, Zephyr has to fight like hell to survive. Josh Heuston stars as Moses Markley, who finds himself pulled into the nightmare while searching for her.

In this episode, we break down Jai Courtney’s unhinged performance as Tucker, Hassie Harrison’s case for being one of horror’s best recent final girls, the movie’s brutal shark attacks, practical gore, serial-killer trophies, and the seemingly endless number of times Zephyr comes within inches of escaping.

We also discuss whether the movie’s final moments kept Dangerous Animals from being a five-star horror movie — plus, because this is the Podcaster’s Cut, things inevitably derail into conversations about biting off thumbs, swimming with sharks, fighting bears, Leonardo DiCaprio, fake AI movie trailers, laundry, and much more.

Was Dangerous Animals one of the best shark horror movies in years? And just how far would you go to survive a shark-obsessed serial killer?

WARNING: This episode contains full spoilers for Dangerous Animals.

Sponsored By:

🧔 Beard Octane Use code 30SCREAMS10 at checkout for 10% off your order: https://beardoctane.com/

Silver Scream Con: Huge thanks to Silver Scream Con for providing 30 Screams or Less with complimentary weekend passes! We’ll be there covering the convention, so if you’re heading out this year, come say hello. Check out Silver Scream Con and get all the details here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/silver-scream-con-5-tickets-1978823895540

Alamo Drafthouse Presents Fantastic Fest: We’re incredibly excited to announce that 30 Screams or Less has been accredited as press for this year’s Fantastic Fest! We’ll be covering the festival, checking out some of the most anticipated genre films of the year, and bringing you reviews and coverage along the way. Learn more about Fantastic Fest here: https://fantasticfest.com/

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